jacobs



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

J. J AG OBS.

ILLUMINATING TILE.

Patented Dec. 18, 1883.

N. PETEREL Phdolvlhcgraphen Washmgmn. n. c

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J JAGOBS. ILLUMINATING TILE.

No. 290,584. Patented Dec. 18, 1883.

lWW/M' view of the lower side of the same.

lhvrren Srrrrns PATENT JACOB JACOBS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ILLUMINATING-TiLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,584, dated December 18, 1883.

Application filed August .24, 1882. (X0 model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J A0013 JACOBS, of New York, in the county of New York, and in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminating- Tiles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper side of one form of my tile. Fig. 2 is a like Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views from opposite sides of one of my improved lens detached from its tile, and Fig. 5 is a crosssection ofatile through the centers of a row of lenses.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The design of my invention is to increase the efficiency and usefulness of illuminating-tiles; and to this end it consists in the construction of the tile, whereby great strength combined with a secure foothold is secured, and in the form of the lens whereby its light transmitting and retracting powers are increased, and its surface below the tile is prevented from becoming obscured by dirt, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

In the annexed drawings, A represents a metal tile which has any desired form in plan view, and is provided with light-openings that are each inclosed by means of a curb, a, that has aheight corresponding to the height of the rim a, which is provided at the edge of said tile. \Vithin each opening is placed a glass lens, B, the body of which has the form of a plain disk with a slightly less diameter at its upper end than at its lower end. The bottom of said body rests upon an annular shoulder at the bottom of the curb a, and between its periphery and the inner side of said curb the space is filled with any suitable cement in the usual way. From the lower side at the center of the disk of lens 13 a pendant, 6, projects downward, and upon one side has a concave face curved throughout its extent from top to bottom. The curvature is such that starting at the top at a considerable angle to a perpendicular line through the lens the surface of the pendant curves toward such perpendicular line until it becomes tangential thereto, and

then curves slightly and gradually away therefrom to the lower end. The point of tangency of the curve and line is about two-thirds the distance down to the end of the pendant. Upon the opposite face of said pendant is a semi-spherical boss, Z), forming a convex lens, whose center or axis is opposite the point of tangency referred to above. The surface of the pendant between the top thereof and the upper edge of the lens I) is curved inward-or concaved, as shown best in Fig. The extreme lower end of the pendant is made convex. The parallel rays of light passing straight downward through the disk and pendant are scattered by this lower end, so as to illuminate considerable space. Those of the rays which strike the inner surface of the concaved side at or near a perpendicular line thereto at the point of contact pass through and are caused to diverge in radiant lines. Most of those that do not strike the surface so, but at an angle thereto, are reflected over to the lens b, according to the well-known principles of optics. lens are caused to converge thereby, cross each other, and diverge again to light up as large an extent of space as possible. A few rays which strike this surface at such an angle that when reflected they pass below the lens b will strike and pass out through the convex end of the pendant. IVhatever rays strike the short concave portion between theconvex lens and the disk at such an angle that they cannot pass through it are reflected over to the long concave surface of the pendant, and either pass through that or are reflected back to the lens Z), to be scattered thereby, as set forth above. All the rays except the small portion striking upon the lower end of the pendant will pass out through the concave surfaces of the pendant or the lens 7/, and con sequently the greater part of the light entering the disk of the lens B will be thoroughly disseminated and spread out, so as to act most advantageously in illuminating as much space as possible.

If desired, the pendants may have such relative lengths as to enable those farthest from the space to be illuminatedto refract the rays of light below those in front, as shown by dotted lines of Fig.

In order that the surface of the pendant b These rays passing out through the may not become obscured by the drip of moisture condensed upon the lower surface of the tile, a downward and outward projecting ledge, If, is provided at the upper end of said pendant, the outer edge of which extends horizontally beyond each portion of the latter. Such moisture as drips from said lens is now intercepted by said ledge and caused to drop entirely clear of said pendant, whereby thesurface of the latter is prevented from becoming obscured, as would be the case were said moisture, with the dirt contained therein, to pass over the same.

In order that the pendants 1) maybe strengthened, I cast into each a wire, I)", which passes through its longitudinal center and adds materially to the durability of the lens without appreciably lessening its illuminating power.

The surface of the tile A is recessed to a slight depth between the curbs a, and such recess is filled with cement, concrete, or other non-slippery material, for the purpose of forming a smooth and safe walking-surface; but as said filling is only a veneer in thickness, and is liable to become broken when loaded trucks are rolled over the tile, I provide between said curbs ledges or ribs a, which come to the surface, and in connection with said curbs furnish said bearings, which protect said filling from injury. It will be seen that the metal portion of the tile is but slightly reduced in thickness by the recesses for the non-slippery veneer, and that, therefore, said tile is practically as efficient in strength as though the surface between the curbs was composed wholly of iron. Such construction enables said tile to be used in places where the concrete tile heretofore used would be useless because of deficient strength.

I am aware that it is not new to construct tiles with walking-surfaces composed of glass, iron, and cement, or concrete, and therefore do not claim the same, broadly.

The tile thus constructed is not materially weakened, and possesses all of the strength requisite, and furnishes a safe and substantial footing, the slight veneering of concrete operating as well for the last-named purpose as though said concrete were many times as thick.

I am aware that it is not new to construct tiles with surfaces composed of metal, glass, and concrete, and do not claim the same, broadly.

I am aware that it is not new to provide the upper surface of illuminating-tiles with a covering of concrete or asphalt surrounding the lens-opening.

I am also aware that heretofore the metal frame of the tile has been provided with a net-work of continuous ribs, for firmly holding the concrete covering in place and protecting the same. Where these ribs are extended up to be flush with the surface of the asphalt too much metal is exposed, and the wearing-surface is rendered too slippery. The short ribs or studs used by me serve to securely hold and sufficiently protect the concrete or asphalt without materially increasing the amount of slippery metal surface exposed.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, what I claim as new 1s 1. As an improvement inilluminating-tiles, a lens consisting of adisk provided at its lower side with a pendant, which extends below the supporting-plate, and has uponone side a concave surface and upon the other a semi-spherical convex lens, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As an improvement in lenses for illuminating-tiles, a disk provided on its lower side with a pendant, b, having on one side the concave surface and on the other the convex lens I), and the short concave surface above the lens, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. As an improvement in lenses for illuminating-tiles, a disk provided on its lower side with a pendant, I), made convex at its lower end, concave on one side, and provided with a convex lens on the other, and a short concave surface above the lens, substantially as and for the purpose'set forth.

4. An illuminating-lens having upon its lower side a pendant, and provided above the latter with an outward and downward dripledge,which forms part of said lens, substan- JACOB JACOBS.

Witnesses:

D. G. Bnncnrxe, V. F. KINSLEY. 

